Content-modification system with feature for prioritizing channels used in channel identification

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a method includes identifying a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel and identifying, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay. The method also includes determining that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel. The method also includes in response to the determining, storing an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/166,052, filed Mar. 25, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY

In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified and/or unless the particular context clearly dictates otherwise, the terms “a” or “an” mean at least one, and the term “the” means the at least one.

In this disclosure, the term “computing system” means a system that includes at least one computing device. In some instances, a computing system can include one or more other computing systems.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method includes identifying, by a computing system, a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel. The method also includes identifying, by the computing system, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay. The method also includes determining, by the computing system, that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel. The method also includes in response to the determining, storing, by the computing system, an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel. The method also includes detecting, by the computing system, that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel. The method also includes in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, by the computing system, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel. The method also includes performing, by the computing system, an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.

In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations. The set of operations includes identifying a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel. The set of operations also includes identifying, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay. The set of operations also includes determining that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel. The set of operations also includes in response to the determining, storing an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel. The set of operations also includes detecting that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel. The set of operations also includes in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel. The set of operations also includes performing an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.

In another aspect, a computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause performance of a set of operations. The set of operations includes identifying a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel. The set of operations also includes identifying, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay. The set of operations also includes determining that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel. The set of operations also includes in response to the determining, storing an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel. The set of operations also includes detecting that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel. The set of operations also includes in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel. The set of operations also includes performing an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example content-modification system in which various described principles can be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing system in which various described principles can be implemented.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example linear sequences of content and related concepts.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F collectively make up a table showing example time-periods and corresponding operations that can be performed in connection with the example content-modification system.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

To deliver and present content to end-users, a content provider can transmit the content to one or more content-distribution systems, each of which can in turn transmit the content to one or more respective content-presentation devices to be output for presentation to respective end-users. Such a hierarchical arrangement can facilitate convenient, widespread distribution of content.

By way of example, in order for a video content provider to deliver video content to end-users throughout the United States, the video content provider can transmit the video content by satellite or another medium to content-distribution systems that serve respective designated market areas (DMAs) within the United States. Each such content-distribution system can therefore receive the national satellite feed carrying the video content and can transmit the video content to television sets and/or set-top boxes in the content-distribution system's DMA, such that the video content can be output for presentation to respective end-users in that DMA. In practice, these content-distribution systems and their means of transmission to content-presentation devices can take various forms. For instance, a content-distribution system can be associated with a cable-television provider and can transmit video content to content-presentation devices of end-users who are cable-television subscribers through hybrid fiber/coaxial cable connections.

As such, in various scenarios, a content-distribution system can transmit content to a content-presentation device, which can receive and output the content for presentation to an end-user. In some situations, even though the content-presentation device receives content from the content-distribution system, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device to perform a content-modification operation so that the content-presentation device can output for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion of that received content.

For example, in the case where the content-presentation device receives a linear sequence of content segments that includes a given advertisement segment positioned somewhere within the sequence, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device to replace the given advertisement segment with a different advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to the end-user (e.g., more targeted to the end-user's interests, demographics, etc.). This type of advertisement replacement is also referred to herein as “dynamic ad insertion (DAI).” As another example, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device to overlay on the given advertisement segment, overlay content that enhances the given advertisement segment in a way that is again perhaps more targeted to the end-user. The described content-modification system can facilitate providing these and other related features.

In one example, the content-modification system can include a fingerprint-matching server that can identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity on an identified channel. The fingerprint-matching server can identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity on an identified channel by comparing and detecting a match between two different instances of fingerprint data. Based on the detected match, the fingerprint-matching server can identify where within a linear sequence of content segments to make a modification, such as where to place targeted content. The fingerprint-matching server can then transmit fingerprint data and metadata to the content-presentation device data to facilitate preparing the content-presentation device to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity.

Further, in scenarios where the channel on which the content-presentation device is receiving content is unknown, fingerprint matching can be used to identify the channel. Once the channel is identified, the content-modification system can identify an upcoming content modification opportunity within the linear sequence of content segments on the identified channel.

As a more specific example of how the fingerprint-matching server can identify a channel on which the content-presentation device is receiving content, the fingerprint-matching server can receive, from a content-distribution system, reference fingerprint data representing content being transmitted on an identified channel (e.g., content that the content-distribution system is or will soon transmit over a channel, where the channel is identified by metadata associated with the content being transmitted). The fingerprint-matching server can also receive query fingerprint data representing content being received by the content-presentation device on an unidentified channel. As such, the fingerprint-matching server can compare the reference fingerprint data with query fingerprint data to determine whether there is a match. The match between the query fingerprint data and particular reference fingerprint data can enable the fingerprint-matching server to identify the channel.

However, when the fingerprint-matching server does not know the channel on which the content represented by the query fingerprint data is being received, such as when an end-user associated with the content-presentation device changes channels, the fingerprint-matching server might need to make comparisons to numerous (e.g., hundreds) of reference fingerprint data sets associated with numerous different channels until a match is detected and the channel is identified. This can be a time consuming process and, in some instances, can require a large amount of the fingerprint-matching server's memory and processing power to store and process the reference fingerprint data sets. In addition, the longer time taken to identify the channel can also result in various missed potential content-modification opportunities on the channel. Furthermore, when an end-user changes channels, especially at a high frequency, the fingerprint-matching server often needs to repeat this channel identification process for the new channel, thereby resulting in even more processing power and time delays in the fingerprint-matching server identifying new channels.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems that improve the above-described process by reducing the time in which the content-modification system identifies a channel on which a content-presentation device is receiving content. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems can use the channel changing behavior of content-presentation devices tuned to a channel as a basis to limit which reference fingerprints (and corresponding channels) are used for channel identification when other content-presentation devices tuned to that same channel change channels.

As an example, for a fingerprint-matching server to perform channel identifications more quickly and using less computational resources, the fingerprint-matching server can identify a group of content-presentation devices that are all tuned to the same channel and use the channel changing behavior of a first sub-group of those content-presentation devices as a basis to predict the channel changing behavior of a second sub-group of those content-presentation devices. The first sub-group of content-presentation devices can be characterized as content-presentation devices that are receiving content on the channel earlier than the second sub-group of content-presentation devices. For example, the first sub-group of content-presentation devices may have a lower content-transmission delay (between a content distributor and the content-presentation devices) than the second sub-group of content-presentation devices. If at least a threshold of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group are changing to a particular channel, the fingerprint-matching server can designate that particular channel as a “priority channel.” Then, when a content-presentation device from the second sub-group changes channels and the fingerprint-matching server needs to identify the new channel that the content-presentation device tuned to, the fingerprint-matching server can prioritize matching against fingerprints from the priority channel.

Advantageously, when a content-presentation device changes channels to a priority channel and the fingerprint-matching server prioritizes matching against fingerprints from the priority channel, less reference fingerprints, and thus less computational resources, are used for channel identification, thereby improving the efficiency with which the fingerprint-matching server identifies the new channel that result from the channel change. Furthermore, with less time taken to perform channel identification after a channel change, the fingerprint-matching server, and the content-modification system in general, can more quickly identify content-modification opportunities on the new channel, thus advantageously reducing the number of missed opportunities.

II. Architecture

A. Content-Modification System

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example content-modification system 100. The content-modification system 100 can include various components, such as a content-distribution system 102, a content-presentation device 104, a fingerprint-matching server 106, a content-management system 108, a data-management system 110, and/or a supplemental-content delivery system 112.

The content-modification system 100 can also include one or more connection mechanisms that connect various components within the content-modification system 100. For example, the content-modification system 100 can include the connection mechanisms represented by lines connecting components of the content-modification system 100, as shown in FIG. 1 .

In this disclosure, the term “connection mechanism” means a mechanism that connects and facilitates communication between two or more components, devices, systems, or other entities. A connection mechanism can be or include a relatively simple mechanism, such as a cable or system bus, and/or a relatively complex mechanism, such as a packet-based communication network (e.g., the Internet). In some instances, a connection mechanism can be or include a non-tangible medium, such as in the case where the connection is at least partially wireless. In this disclosure, a connection can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, the latter being a connection that passes through and/or traverses one or more entities, such as a router, switcher, or other network device. Likewise, in this disclosure, communication (e.g., a transmission or receipt of data) can be a direct or indirect communication.

The content-modification system 100 and/or components thereof can take the form of a computing system, an example of which is described below.

Notably, in practice, the content-modification system 100 is likely to include many instances of at least some of the described components. For example, the content-modification system 100 is likely to include many content-distribution systems and many content-presentation devices.

B. Computing System

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing system 200. The computing system 200 can be configured to perform and/or can perform one or more operations, such as the operations described in this disclosure. The computing system 200 can include various components, such as a processor 202, a data-storage unit 204, a communication interface 206, and/or a user interface 208.

The processor 202 can be or include a general-purpose processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and/or a special-purpose processor (e.g., a digital signal processor). The processor 202 can execute program instructions included in the data-storage unit 204 as described below.

The data-storage unit 204 can be or include one or more volatile, non-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable storage components, such as magnetic, optical, and/or flash storage, and/or can be integrated in whole or in part with the processor 202. Further, the data-storage unit 204 can be or include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions (e.g., compiled or non-compiled program logic and/or machine code) that, upon execution by the processor 202, cause the computing system 200 and/or another computing system to perform one or more operations, such as the operations described in this disclosure. These program instructions can define, and/or be part of, a discrete software application.

In some instances, the computing system 200 can execute program instructions in response to receiving an input, such as an input received via the communication interface 206 and/or the user interface 208. The data-storage unit 204 can also store other data, such as any of the data described in this disclosure.

The communication interface 206 can allow the computing system 200 to connect with and/or communicate with another entity according to one or more protocols. Therefore, the computing system 200 can transmit data to, and/or receive data from, one or more other entities according to one or more protocols. In one example, the communication interface 206 can be or include a wired interface, such as an Ethernet interface or a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). In another example, the communication interface 206 can be or include a wireless interface, such as a cellular or WI-FI interface.

The user interface 208 can allow for interaction between the computing system 200 and a user of the computing system 200. As such, the user interface 208 can be or include an input component such as a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller, a microphone, and/or a touch-sensitive panel. The user interface 208 can also be or include an output component such as a display device (which, for example, can be combined with a touch-sensitive panel) and/or a sound speaker.

The computing system 200 can also include one or more connection mechanisms that connect various components within the computing system 200. For example, the computing system 200 can include the connection mechanisms represented by lines that connect components of the computing system 200, as shown in FIG. 2 .

The computing system 200 can include one or more of the above-described components and can be configured or arranged in various ways. For example, the computing system 200 can be configured as a server and/or a client (or perhaps a cluster of servers and/or a cluster of clients) operating in one or more server-client type arrangements, for instance.

As noted above, the content-modification system 100 and/or components thereof can take the form of a computing system, such as the computing system 200. In some cases, some or all these entities can take the form of a more specific type of computing system. For instance, in the case of the content-presentation device 104, it can take the form of a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a television set, a set-top box, a television set with an integrated set-top box, a media dongle, or a television set with a media dongle connected to it, among other possibilities.

III. Example Operations

The content-modification system 100 and/or components thereof can be configured to perform and/or can perform one or more operations. Examples of these operations and related features will now be described.

As noted above, in practice, the content-modification system 100 is likely to include many instances of at least some of the described components. Likewise, in practice, it is likely that at least some of described operations will be performed many times (perhaps on a routine basis and/or in connection with additional instances of the described components).

A. Operations Related to the Content-Distribution System Transmitting Content and the Content-Presenting Device Receiving and Outputting Content

For context, general operations and examples related to the content-distribution system 102 transmitting content and the content-presentation device 104 receiving and outputting content will now be described.

To begin, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit content (e.g., that it received from a content provider) to one or more entities such as the content-presentation device 104. Content can be or include audio content and/or video content, for example. In some examples, content can take the form of a linear sequence of content segments (e.g., program segments and advertisement segments) or a portion thereof. In the case of video content, a portion of the video content may be one or more frames, for example.

The content-distribution system 102 can transmit content on one or more channels (sometimes referred to as stations or feeds). As such, the content-distribution system 102 can be associated with a single channel content distributor or a multi-channel content distributor such as a multi-channel video program distributor (MVPD).

The content-distribution system 102 and its means of transmission of content on the channel to the content-presentation device 104 can take various forms. By way of example, the content-distribution system 102 can be or include a cable-television head-end that is associated with a cable-television provider and that transmits the content on the channel to the content-presentation device 104 through hybrid fiber/coaxial cable connections. As another example, the content-distribution system 102 can be or include a satellite-television head-end that is associated with a satellite-television provider and that transmits the content on the channel to the content-presentation device 104 through a satellite transmission. As yet another example, the content-distribution system 102 can be or include a television-broadcast station that is associated with a television-broadcast provider and that transmits the content on the channel through a terrestrial over-the-air interface to the content-presentation device 104. In these and other examples, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit the content in the form of an analog or digital broadcast stream representing the content.

The content-presentation device 104 can receive content from one or more entities, such as the content-distribution system 102. In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can select (e.g., by tuning to) a channel from among multiple available channels, perhaps based on input received via a user interface, such that the content-presentation device 104 can receive content on the selected channel.

In some examples, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit content to the content-presentation device 104, which the content-presentation device 104 can receive, and therefore the transmitted content and the received content can be the same. However, in other examples, they can be different, such as where the content-distribution system 102 transmits content to the content-presentation device 104, but the content-presentation device 104 does not receive the content and instead receives different content from a different content-distribution system.

The content-presentation device 104 can also output content for presentation. As noted above, the content-presentation device 104 can take various forms. In one example, in the case where the content-presentation device 104 is a television set (perhaps with an integrated set-top box and/or media dongle), outputting the content for presentation can involve the television set outputting the content via a user interface (e.g., a display device and/or a sound speaker), such that it can be presented to an end-user. As another example, in the case where the content-presentation device 104 is a set-top box or a media dongle, outputting the content for presentation can involve the set-top box or the media dongle outputting the content via a communication interface (e.g., an HDMI interface), such that it can be received by a television set and in turn output by the television set for presentation to an end-user.

As such, in various scenarios, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit content to the content-presentation device 104, which can receive and output the content for presentation to an end-user. In some situations, even though the content-presentation device 104 receives content from the content-distribution system 102, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion of that received content.

For example, in the case where the content-presentation device 104 receives a linear sequence of content segments that includes a given advertisement segment positioned somewhere within the sequence, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to replace the given advertisement segment with a different advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to the end-user (i.e., more targeted to the end-user's interests, demographics, etc.). As another example, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to overlay on the given advertisement segment, overlay content that enhances the given advertisement segment in a way that is again perhaps more targeted to the end-user. The described content-modification system 100 can facilitate providing these and other related features.

As noted above, in one example, content can take the form of a linear sequence of content segments. As such, in one example, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit a linear sequence of content segments. This is referred to herein as a “transmission sequence.” Likewise, the content-presentation device 104 can receive a linear sequence of content segments. This is referred to herein as a “receipt sequence.” In line with the discussion above, the transmission sequence and the receipt sequence can be the same or they can be different.

FIG. 3 illustrates some examples of these concepts. In one example, the transmission sequence is the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 shown in FIG. 3 . As shown, the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 includes a PROGRAM SEGMENT A, followed by an AD SEGMENT B, followed by an AD SEGMENT C.

Likewise, in one example, the receipt sequence is the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 shown in FIG. 3 . In this example, the content-distribution system 102 transmits the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 to the content-presentation device 104, which the content-presentation device 104 receives as the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304, and therefore the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 and the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 are the same. As such, as shown, the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 also includes the PROGRAM SEGMENT A, followed by the AD SEGMENT B, followed by the AD SEGMENT C.

In FIG. 3 , the transmission time of the TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE 302 and the receipt time of the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 are shown by way of their relationship to a TIMELINE 350. Notably, the transmission time and the receipt time are offset from each other due to a content-transmission delay, which is described in greater detail below.

As noted above, in some situations, even though the content-presentation device 104 receives content from the content-distribution system 102, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion of that received content. For example, in the case where the content-presentation device 104 receives the receipt sequence, rather than outputting for presentation the receipt sequence, the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation a modified version of the receipt sequence instead. This is referred to herein as a “modified sequence.”

For example, in the case where the receipt sequence includes a given advertisement segment positioned somewhere within the receipt sequence, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to replace the given advertisement segment with a different advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to the end-user (i.e., more targeted to the end-user's interests, demographics, etc.), thereby resulting in a modified sequence that the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation.

To illustrate this, in one example, the modified sequence is the FIRST MODIFIED SEQUENCE 306 shown in FIG. 3 . As shown, the FIRST MODIFIED SEQUENCE 306 includes the PROGRAM SEGMENT A, followed by the AD SEGMENT D (which replaced the AD SEGMENT B), followed by the AD SEGMENT C.

As another example, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to overlay on the given advertisement segment, overlay content that enhances the given advertisement segment in a way that is again perhaps more targeted to the end-user, thereby resulting in a modified sequence that the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation.

To illustrate this, in another example, the modified sequence is the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308 shown in FIG. 3 . As shown, the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308 includes the PROGRAM SEGMENT A, followed by the AD SEGMENT B′ (which is the AD SEGMENT B modified with overlay content), followed by the AD SEGMENT C.

Other portions of FIG. 3 will be described later in this disclosure as related concepts are introduced and described.

Moving on in view of the context provided above, FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F, collectively make up a table showing example time-periods and corresponding operations that can be performed in connection with the content-modification system 100. These and other related operations will now be described.

B. Operations Related to the Content-Distribution System Transmitting First Content on a Channel

During a time-period T1, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit content on a channel to the content-presentation device 104. This content is referred to herein as “first content.” In one example, the first content is the FIRST CONTENT 310 shown in FIG. 3 .

During a time-period T2, the content-distribution system 102 can generate fingerprint data representing the first content. This fingerprint data is referred to herein as “first fingerprint data.” The content-distribution system 102 can generate the first fingerprint data using any content fingerprinting process now known or later developed. By way of example, the content-distribution system 102 can generate the first fingerprint data by selecting multiple patches of a frame of video content and calculating a value for each of the selected multiple patches. In some instances, the values can include Haar-like features at different scales and in different locations of displayed regions of the frame of video content. Further, in some instances, the values can be derived from an integral image, which is a summed image where each pixel is a sum of values of the pixels above and to the left, as well as the current pixel. Using an integral image technique may increase the efficiency of the fingerprint data generation.

The content-distribution system 102 can access the first content at various points within the content-distribution system 102. As one example, the content-distribution system 102 can access the first content after it is output by a distribution amplifier within the content-distribution system 102.

Also during the time-period T2, the content-distribution system 102 can generate metadata associated with the first content and/or the first fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to herein as “first metadata.” In one example, the first metadata can be or include a transmission time-stamp, which represents a time-point at which the content-distribution system 102 transmitted the first content. The content-distribution system 102 can determine the transmission time-stamp in various ways, such as based on a time clock that is synchronized to a reference clock.

As another example, the first metadata can be or include a channel identifier, which identifies the channel on which the content-distribution system 102 is transmitting the first content. The content-distribution system 102 can determine the channel identifier in various ways such as based on mapping data that maps the content-distribution system 102 and/or physical inputs and/or outputs within the content-distribution system 102 to respective channel identifiers. In one example, in the case where the content-distribution system 102 transmits content A on channel A, content B on channel B, and content C on channel C, the mapping data can specify which of three different outputs (perhaps on three different distribution amplifiers) maps to which channel identifier, such that the content-distribution system 102 can determine the appropriate channel identifier for content of a given channel.

As another example, the first metadata can be or include SCTE-104 data, a watermark, or a similar type of metadata, any of which can themselves encode other metadata, such as a program identifier, an advertisement identifier (e.g., an industry standard coding identification (ISCI) key), a program genre, or another type of textual or numeric metadata, for instance.

The content-distribution system 102 can associate the first fingerprint data with the first metadata in various ways. For instance, in the case where the first fingerprint data includes multiple fingerprints with each fingerprint representing a corresponding frame of the first content, the content-distribution system 102 can associate each fingerprint with a corresponding transmission time-stamp and/or with other corresponding first metadata.

During a time-period T3, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit the first fingerprint data and the first metadata to the fingerprint-matching server 106. The content-distribution system 102 can transmit the first fingerprint data and the first metadata at a given interval. For example, every two seconds, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit the first fingerprint data and the first metadata that it generated during that most recent two-second time-period.

C. Operations Related to the Content-Presentation Device Receiving Second Content

During a time-period T4, the content-presentation device 104 can receive content from the content-distribution system 102. This content is referred to herein as “second content.” In one example, the second content is the SECOND CONTENT 312 shown in FIG. 3 .

During a time-period T5, the content-presentation device 104 can generate fingerprint data representing the second content. This fingerprint data is referred to herein as “second fingerprint data.” The content-presentation device 104 can generate the second fingerprint data using any content fingerprinting process now known or later developed. The content-presentation device 104 can generate the second fingerprint data at various rates, such as at the rate of one fingerprint per frame of the second content. The second fingerprint data can be or include some or all of these generated fingerprints.

The content-presentation device 104 can access the second content at various points within the content-presentation device 104. As one example, the content-presentation device 104 can access the second content as it is being received by an input buffer (e.g., an HDMI buffer) of the content-presentation device 104. In another configuration, the content-presentation device 104 can access the second content as it is being received by a display buffer of the content-presentation device 104. In this configuration, the second content can therefore be content that the content-presentation device 104 not only receives, but also outputs for presentation.

Also during the time-period T5, the content-presentation device 104 can generate metadata associated with the second content and/or the second fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to herein as “second metadata.” As one example, the second metadata can be or include a receipt time-stamp, which represents a time-point at which the content-presentation device 104 received the second content. The content-presentation device 104 can determine the receipt time-stamp in various ways, such as based on a time clock that is synchronized to a reference clock. As noted above, the content-presentation device 104 can access the second content at various points within the content-presentation device 104. In one example, the point at which the second content is accessed can be considered the “receipt” point for purposes of determining the receipt time-stamp.

In practice, while the first metadata is likely to be or include a channel identifier, the second metadata is likely to not be nor include a channel identifier.

The content-presentation device 104 can associate the second fingerprint data with the second metadata in various ways. For instance, where the second fingerprint data includes multiple fingerprints with each fingerprint representing a corresponding frame of second content, the content-presentation device 104 can associate each second fingerprint with a corresponding receipt time-stamp and/or other corresponding metadata.

During a time-period T6, the content-presentation device 104 can transmit the second fingerprint data and the second metadata to the fingerprint-matching server 106. The content-presentation device 104 can transmit the second fingerprint data and the second metadata at a given interval. For example, every two seconds, the content-presentation device 104 can transmit the second fingerprint data and the second metadata that it generated during that most recent two-second time-period.

D. Operations Related to Identifying a Channel on which the Content-Presentation Device is Receiving the Second Content

During a time-period T7, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive the first fingerprint data and the first metadata from the content-distribution system 102. As noted above, the first fingerprint data represents the first content transmitted by the content-distribution system 102 on the channel. As noted above, the first metadata can, and for the purposes of this described example does, identify the channel. In this way, the first content can be considered as content being transmitted on an identified channel.

During a time-period T8, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive the second fingerprint data and the second metadata from the content-presentation device 104. As noted above, the second fingerprint data represents the second content received by the content-presentation device 104. However, as noted above, the associated metadata may not, and for the purposes of this described example does not, identify the channel. In this way, the second content can be considered as content being received on an unidentified channel.

During a time-period T9, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare the first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data to determine whether there is a match. In this disclosure, this type of match attempt, namely a match attempt between (i) reference fingerprint data representing content being transmitted on an identified channel and (ii) query fingerprint data representing content being received on an unidentified channel, is referred to herein as a “cold match attempt.”

During a time-period T10, based on the comparing, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a match between the first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare and/or detect a match between fingerprint data using any content fingerprint comparing and matching technique now known or later developed. By way of example, the first fingerprint data may include a first group of fingerprints, and the second fingerprint data may include a second group of fingerprints. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that the first group of fingerprints match the second group of fingerprints upon determining that a similarity between each of the query fingerprints and each of the respective reference fingerprints satisfies a predetermined threshold associated with a Tanimoto distance measurement, a Manhattan distance measurement, and/or other distance measurements associated with matching images or other visual-based content.

To effectively compare the first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may need to account for a content-transmission delay. For context, in the case where the content-distribution system 102 transmits a given frame of content on a given channel at a time-point A, for various reasons, the content-presentation device 104 may not receive that frame until a time-point B that is later (e.g., ten seconds later) than the time-point A. This type of delay is referred to herein as a “content-transmission delay.”

In one example, the time-point A, the time-point B, and the content-transmission delay can be the TIME-POINT A 314, the TIME-POINT B 316, and the CONTENT-TRANSMISSION DELAY 318, respectively, shown FIG. 3 . Note that FIG. 3 is for illustration purposes and is not necessarily to scale at least with respect to time. In practice, the actual amount of content-transmission delay may be different from the amount shown.

To help the fingerprint-matching server 106 effectively compare the first fingerprint data with the second fingerprint data, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may need to account for such a content-transmission delay. In one example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can do this by comparing the first fingerprint data that it receives at a receipt time-point with the second fingerprint data that it receives during a time-period defined by a starting time-point and an ending time-point. The starting time-point can be the receipt time-point plus an offset representing an anticipated content-transmission delay (e.g., ten seconds), minus a tolerance a time-period (e.g., two seconds). The ending time-point can be the receipt time-point plus the offset (e.g., ten seconds), plus the tolerance a time-period (e.g., two seconds). As such, in one example where the anticipated content-transmission delay is 10 seconds, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare first fingerprint data that it receives at a receipt time-point with second fingerprint data that it receives during a time-period between (i) the receipt time-point plus eight seconds and (ii) receipt time-point plus twelve seconds.

In some cases, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine a content-transmission delay, which it can use to select an appropriate offset for use in determining the starting and ending time-points, as described above. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the content-transmission delay in various ways. For example, after the fingerprint-matching server 106 detects a match based on a cold match attempt, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the content-transmission delay as a difference between the corresponding transmission time-stamp (of the first metadata) and the corresponding receipt time-stamp (of the second metadata), for example. Notably, the content-transmission delay can vary from channel to channel.

During a time-period T11, based on the detected match, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify the channel on which the second content is being received by the content-presentation device 104. In one example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify the channel based on the channel identifier metadata associated with the first fingerprint data used to detect the match.

Notably, in practice, since there are likely to be multiple potential channels on which the content-presentation device 104 is receiving the second content, the fingerprint-matching server 106 is likely to compare the second fingerprint data with multiple instances of first fingerprint data (each representing a different respective instance of first content on a different respective channel), to determine which of those multiple instances matches the second fingerprint data.

Also, in some cases, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a match between the second fingerprint data and each of multiple instances of first fingerprint data (each representing a different respective instance of first content on a different respective channel). This is referred to herein as a “multimatch scenario” and can occur for various reasons. For example, this can occur when the content-distribution system 102 is transmitting the same or similar content on more than one channel at or about the same time. In this scenario, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can perform additional operations to identity, from among the multiple channels associated with the multimatch scenario, on which specific channel the content-presentation device 104 is receiving the second content. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can do this using any channel multimatch disambiguation technique now known or later developed. By way of example, responsive to determining that a fingerprint of the second fingerprint data matches multiple fingerprints of the first fingerprint data, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can (i) identify a fingerprint feature that differs as between the multiple fingerprints of the first fingerprint data and (ii) determine that a fingerprint of the second fingerprint data matches just one of the multiple fingerprints as to the identified fingerprint feature. Identifying the fingerprint feature can involve (i) referring to data that indicates a region of a frame that is channel specific to determine a region that is channel specific and (ii) identifying as the fingerprint feature a fingerprint feature corresponding with the determined region. The determined region can include a video frame edge or a region where channel identification is presented, for instance.

E. Operations Related to Determining Historical Content Consumption Data

During a time-period T12, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can generate metadata associated with the identified channel. For example, the metadata can be or include a channel identification time-stamp. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the channel identification time-stamp in various ways, such as based on a time clock that is synchronized to a reference clock. In another example, the metadata can be or include a device identifier that identifies the content-presentation device 104 that is receiving content on the identified channel. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the device identifier in various ways, such as by receiving it from the content-presentation device 104. In another example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive data (e.g., device registration data) from the content-presentation device 104 and can use mapping data to map the received data to determine the device identifier.

During a time-period T13, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can transmit an indication of the identified channel and the associated metadata to the data-management system 110.

During a time-period T14, the data-management system 110 can receive the indication of the identified channel and the associated metadata from the fingerprint-matching server 106.

The data-management system 110 can use the received indication of the identified channel and the associated metadata, perhaps with other data, to determine when the content-presentation device 104 has received content on the identified channel, what specific content the content-presentation device 104 has received, etc. This type of data is referred to herein as “historical content consumption data.”

As such, during a time-period T15, the data-management system 110 can determine historical content consumption data associated with the content-presentation device 104.

F. Operations Related to the Content-Distribution System Transmitting Third Content

As noted above, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify the channel on which the content-presentation device 104 is receiving the second content.

During a time-period T16, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit content on the identified channel to the content-presentation device 104. This content is referred to herein as “third content.” In one example, the third content is the THIRD CONTENT 320 shown in FIG. 3 . In practice, the content-distribution system 102 is likely to transmit the third content shortly after (e.g., immediately after or a few seconds or minutes after) transmitting the first content.

During a time-period T17, the content-distribution system 102 can generate fingerprint data representing the third content. This fingerprint data is referred to herein as “third fingerprint data.”

Also during the time-period T17, the content-distribution system 102 can generate metadata associated with the third content and/or the third fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to herein as “third metadata.” The content-distribution system 102 can also associate the third fingerprint data with the third metadata.

During a time-period T18, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit the third fingerprint data and the third metadata to the fingerprint-matching server 106.

The content-distribution system 102 can transmit the third content, generate the third fingerprint data, generate the third metadata, associate the third fingerprint data with the third metadata, and transmit the third fingerprint data and the third metadata in various ways, such as ways that are the same as or similar to those described above in connection with transmitting the first content, generating the first fingerprint data, generating the first metadata, associating the first fingerprint data with the first metadata, and transmitting the first fingerprint data and the first metadata.

G. Operations Related to the Content-Management System Receiving a Modifiable Content-Segment

During a time-period T19, the content-management system 108 can receive content in the form of a content segment that has been identified as a candidate to be modified. This content is referred to herein as a “modifiable content-segment” or “fourth content.” In one example, the modifiable content-segment is the MODIFIABLE CONTENT-SEGMENT shown in FIG. 3 .

The modifiable content-segment can take various forms. For example, the modifiable content-segment can be an advertisement segment (e.g., a commercial) or a program segment. As such, in one example, the modifiable content-segment can be an advertisement segment that has been identified as a candidate to be modified, perhaps by way of being replaced with a different advertisement segment, and/or by way of having content overlaid thereon.

In one example, a user, perhaps associated with the content-distribution system 102, can facilitate uploading the modifiable content-segment to the content-management system 108, such that the content-management system 108 can receive it in this way.

During a time-period T20, the content-management system 108 can generate fingerprint data representing the modifiable content-segment. This fingerprint data is referred to herein as “fourth fingerprint data.” The content-management system 108 can generate the fourth fingerprint data using any fingerprint generation technique now known or later developed. The content-management system 108 can generate the fourth fingerprint data at a given rate, such as at the rate of one fingerprint per frame of the fourth content. The fourth fingerprint data can be or include some or all of these generated fingerprints.

Also during the time-period T20, the content-management system 108 can generate metadata associated with the modifiable content-segment and/or the fourth fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to herein as “fourth metadata.” As one example, the fourth metadata can be or include a duration of the modifiable content-segment. The content-management system 108 can determine the duration in various ways, such as based on the fingerprint generation process. For example, in the case where the content-management system 108 generating the fourth fingerprint data involves generating one fingerprint per frame, where the modifiable content-segment has a frame rate of 30 frames per second, and where the fingerprinting process results in 300 fingerprints being generated, the content-management system 108 can deduce that the modifiable content-segment has a duration of ten seconds. The metadata can also be or include other information about the modifiable content-segment, such as a content segment identifier, a title, and/or specifics about permissible ways in which the modifiable content-segment can be modified, etc.

During a time-period T21, the content-management system 108 can transmit the fourth fingerprint data and the fourth metadata to the fingerprint-matching server 106.

In practice, the content-management system 108 is likely to receive many modifiable content-segments. In such situations, the content-management system 108 can perform one or more of the operations described above, as appropriate for each of the many received modifiable content-segments. As such, the content-management system 108 can transmit many instances of fourth fingerprint data, each corresponding with a different respective modifiable content-segment, to the fingerprint-matching server 106.

H. Operations Related to the Fingerprint-Matching Server Identifying an Upcoming Content Modification Opportunity on the Identified Channel

During a time-period T22, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive the third fingerprint data and the third metadata from the content-distribution system 102. As noted above, the third fingerprint data represents the third content transmitted by the content-distribution system 102 on the identified channel.

During a time-period T23, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive the fourth fingerprint data and the fourth metadata from the content-management system 108. As noted above, the fourth fingerprint data represents the modifiable content-segment.

During a time-period T24, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare at least a portion of the third fingerprint data with at least a portion of the fourth fingerprint data to determine whether there is a match.

During a time-period T25, based on the comparing, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a match between the at least a portion of the third fingerprint data and the at least a portion of the fourth fingerprint data. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can compare and/or detect a match between fingerprint data using any content fingerprint comparing and matching process now known or later developed.

During a time-period T26, based on the detected match, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that at least a portion of the modifiable content-segment is included within the third content, and therefore can identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity on the identified channel. For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that at least a beginning portion of the MODIFIABLE CONTENT-SEGMENT is included within the THIRD CONTENT 320, as shown in FIG. 3 , and therefore can identify an upcoming content-modification opportunity.

As noted above, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive third metadata, which can be the same as or similar to the first metadata. As such, the third metadata can be or include a transmission time-stamp and/or a channel identifier, for example. However, the third metadata can also be or include a position of at least a portion of the modifiable content-segment within the third content. In one example, the metadata can specify this using a starting frame marker and an ending frame marker, each corresponding with a respective frame of the third content. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the starting frame marker and the ending frame marker based on the matching.

Notably, in practice, since there are likely to be multiple potential modifiable content-segments where portions thereof could be included within the third content, the fingerprint-matching server 106 is likely to compare at least a portion of the third fingerprint data with at least a portion of multiple instances of fourth fingerprint data (each representing a different respective instance of a modifiable content-segment), to determine which of those multiple instances of the fourth fingerprint data has a portion that matches the at least a portion of the third fingerprint data.

I. Operations Related to Preparing the Content-Presentation Device to Perform a Content-Modification Operation in Connection with the Identified Upcoming Content Modification Opportunity

During a time-period T27, based on the detected match, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can transmit the third fingerprint data and the third metadata to the content-presentation device 104 data to facilitate preparing the content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity.

During a time-period T28, the content-presentation device 104 can receive the third fingerprint data and the third metadata from the fingerprint-matching server 106.

During a time-period T29, the content-presentation device 104 can receive content on the identified channel. This content is referred to herein as “fifth content.” In one example, the fifth content is the FIFTH CONTENT 324 shown in FIG. 3 .

For various reasons (e.g., due to a transmission delay associated with transmitting fingerprint data and metadata being shorter that the content-transmission delay), the content-presentation device 104 can receive the third fingerprint data and the third metadata from the fingerprint-matching server 106 before receiving the fifth content from the content-distribution system 102. In this way, the content-presentation device 104 can receive fingerprint data representing content that the content-presentation device 104 is expecting to receive shortly thereafter, and that the content-presentation device should actually receive shortly thereafter unless an interruption event (e.g., a channel-change event) occurs.

In practice, similar to how the content-distribution system 102 is likely to transmit the third content shortly after (e.g., immediately after or a few seconds or minutes after) transmitting the first content, the content-presentation device 104 is likely to receive the fifth content shortly after (e.g., immediately after or a few seconds or minutes after) receiving the second content.

During a time-period T30, the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation at least a portion of the fifth content. For example, referring to FIG. 3 , the content-presentation device can output for presentation the portion of the FIFTH CONTENT 324 that is the end portion of the PROGRAM SEGMENT A.

As noted above, in some situations, even though the content-presentation device 104 receives content from the content-distribution system 102, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation alternative content instead of at least a portion of the received content.

As such, even though the content-presentation device 104 receives the fifth content and outputs for presentation at least a portion of the fifth content, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to perform a content-modification operation so that the content-presentation device 104 can also output for presentation alternative content instead of at least another portion (e.g., the remaining portion) of the fifth content. For example, referring to FIG. 3 , it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to replace at least a portion of the AD SEGMENT B with at least a portion of a different advertisement segment that is perhaps more targeted to the end-user. As another example, it can be desirable for the content-presentation device 104 to overlay on at least a portion of the AD SEGMENT B, overlay content that enhances at least a portion of the AD SEGMENT B in a way that is again perhaps more targeted to the end-user.

During a time-period T31, the content-presentation device 104 can generate fingerprint data representing the fifth content. This fingerprint data is referred to herein as “fifth fingerprint data.” The content-presentation device 104 can generate the fifth fingerprint data using any content fingerprinting process now known or later developed. The content-presentation device 104 can generate the fifth fingerprint data at various rates, such as at the rate of one fingerprint per frame of the fifth content. The fifth fingerprint data can be or include some or all of these generated fingerprints.

Also during the time-period T31, the content-presentation device 104 can generate metadata associated with the fifth content and/or the fifth fingerprint data. This metadata is referred to herein as “fifth metadata.”

The content-presentation device 104 can receive the fifth content, generate the fifth fingerprint data, generate the fifth metadata, associate the fifth fingerprint data with the fifth metadata in various ways, such as ways that are the same as or similar to those described above in connection with receiving the second content, generating the second fingerprint data, generating the second metadata, and associating the second fingerprint data with the second metadata.

As noted above, the content-presentation device 104 can receive the third fingerprint data from the fingerprint-matching server 106 and can generate the fifth fingerprint data.

During a time-period T32, the content-presentation device 104 can compare the third fingerprint data and the fifth fingerprint data to determine whether there is a match.

During a time-period T33, based on the comparing, the content-presentation device 104 can detect a match between the third fingerprint data and the fifth fingerprint data. In this disclosure, this type of match attempt, namely a match attempt between (i) reference fingerprint data representing content transmitted by the content-distribution system 102 on an identified channel (at least based on the most recent channel identification analysis), and (ii) query fingerprint data representing content being received by the content-presentation device 104 on the same identified channel, is referred to herein as a “hot match attempt.” The content-presentation device 104 can compare and/or detect a match between fingerprint data using any content fingerprint comparing and matching process now known or later developed.

During a time-period T34, based on the detected match, the content-presentation device 104 can determine a time-point at which the identified upcoming modification opportunity starts. This is referred to herein as the “modification start-time.” In one example, the modification start-time is the MODIFICATION START-TIME 326 as shown FIG. 3 .

In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can determine the modification start-time by starting with the transmission time-stamp associated with the starting frame marker (which, as described above, can be or be included in the third metadata) and adding the content-transmission delay to that transmission time-stamp, to arrive at the modification start-time.

As another example, the content-presentation device 104 can determine the modification start-time by first establishing a synchronous lock between the third content, the third fingerprint data, and/or the third metadata on the one hand, and the fifth content, the fifth fingerprint data, and/or the fifth metadata, on the other hand. The content-presentation device 104 can establish the synchronous lock using any synchronous lock technique now known or later developed. By way of example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can transmit, to the content-presentation device 104, at least a portion of the third fingerprint data, and the content-presentation device 104 can increase the frame rate at which the content-presentation device 104 generates the fifth fingerprint data. The content-presentation device 104 can then use the third and fifth fingerprint data—namely, the time-stamps at which the third and fifth fingerprint data were generated—as a basis to establish synchronous lock (e.g., a time offset) between (i) true time defined along a timeline within the content being transmitted by the content-distribution system 102 and (ii) client time defined according to a clock of the content-presentation device 104. As another example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can establish synchronous lock as described above and then inform the content-presentation device 104.

The content-presentation device 104 can then determine the modification start-time by determining a time-period between (i) a current receipt time-stamp associated with a first portion of the fifth content that the content-presentation device 104 is currently receiving and (ii) based on the synchronous lock, an anticipated receipt time-stamp associated with a second portion of the fifth content that is the start of the modifiable content-segment, and then adding the determined time-period to the current receipt time-stamp, to arrive at the modification start-time.

Also during the time-period T34, based on the detected match, the content-presentation device 104 can determine a time-point at which the identified upcoming modification opportunity ends. This is referred to herein as the “modification end-time.” In one example, the modification end-time is the MODIFICATION END-TIME 328 as shown FIG. 3 .

In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can determine the modification end-time by starting with the modification start-time and adding the duration of the modifiable content-segment (which, as described above, can be or be included in the fourth metadata) to the modification start-time, to arrive at the modification end-time.

Notably, if the content-presentation device 104 performs a hot match attempt and does not detect a match, the content-presentation device 104 can determine that the content-presentation device 104 is no longer receiving content on the most recently identified channel. In response, the content-presentation device 104 can repeat one or more of the operations described above so that the fingerprint-matching server 106 can perform another cold match attempt, to attempt to identify the channel again.

During a time-period T35, the content-presentation device 104 can transmit a request for content for use in connection with performing the content-modification operation, to the content-management system 108. This content is referred to herein as “supplemental content.” In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can transmit the request before the modification start-time (e.g., ten seconds before). In some cases, the request can include selection criteria for the supplemental content, which the content-presentation device 104 can determine based on the third metadata that the content-presentation device 104 receives from the fingerprint-matching server 106, for instance.

For example, the selection criteria can specify a requested type of content (e.g., a replacement content segment or overlay content), duration (e.g., 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or 60 seconds), aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3 or 16:9), and/or resolution (e.g., 720p or 1080p).

During a time-period T36, the content-management system 108 can receive the request and use it as a basis to select supplemental content from among multiple supplemental content items that are available for selection. In some cases, the content-management system 108 can receive and consider various data to help inform which supplemental content to select. For example, the content-management system 108 can receive historical content consumption data for the content-presentation device 104 from the data-management system 110 and/or the content-management system 108 can receive demographic data from a demographic data provider. The content-management system 108 can then use at least the received historical content consumption data and/or the received demographic data as a basis to select the supplemental content.

The content-management system 108 can cause the selected supplemental content to be transmitted to the content-presentation device 104. In one example, the content-management system 108 can do this by communicating with a supplemental-content delivery system 112 that can host the supplemental content. The supplemental-content delivery system 112 can take various forms and can include various components, such as a content distribution network (CDN).

During a time-period T37, the content-management system 108 can transmit a request for a link (e.g., a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) or a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)) pointing to the hosted supplemental content, to the supplemental-content delivery system 112.

During a time-period T38, the supplemental-content delivery system 112 can receive and respond to the request for the link by transmitting the requested link to the content-management system 108.

During a time-period T39, the content-management system 108 can then in turn transmit the link to the content-presentation device 104.

During a time-period T40, the content-presentation device 104 can receive the link, which it can use to retrieve the supplemental content from the supplemental-content delivery system 112, such that the content-presentation device 104 can use the retrieved supplemental content in connection with performing the content-modification operation. In one example, the content-presentation device 104 can retrieve the supplemental content and store the supplemental content in a data-storage unit of the content-presentation device 104.

As such, in some examples, the content-presentation device 104 can receive the modifiable content-segment from one source (e.g., the content-distribution system 102), and the supplemental content from another source (e.g., the supplemental-content delivery system 112). These segments can be transmitted to, and received by, the content-presentation device 104 in different ways. For example, the content-distribution system 102 can transmit, and the content-presentation device 104 can receive, the modifiable content-segment as a broadcast stream transmission, whereas the supplemental-content delivery system 112 can transmit, and the content-presentation device 104 can receive, the supplemental content as an over-the-top (OTT) transmission. In this context, in one example, the content-distribution system 102 can receive the modifiable content-segment via one communication interface (e.g., an HDMI interface), and the content-presentation device 104 can receive the supplemental content via a different communication interface (e.g., an Ethernet or WI-FI interface).

J. Operations Related to the Content-Presentation Device Performing a Content-Modification Operation

At a time-period T41, the content-presentation device 104 can perform the content-modification operation. The content-presentation device 104 can do this in various ways, perhaps depending on the type of content-modification operation to be performed.

In one example, the content-presentation device 104 performing a content-modification operation can involve the content-presentation device 104 modifying the modifiable content-segment by replacing it with supplemental content. This is referred to herein as a “content-replacement operation.” For example, in this scenario, the content-presentation device 104 can receive a linear sequence of content segments that includes the modifiable content-segment and the associated metadata, and can also receive the supplemental content segment, as described above. The content-presentation device 104 can output for presentation the sequence of content segments up until the modification start-time (which corresponds to the start of the modifiable content-segment), at which time the content-presentation device 104 can switch to outputting for presentation the supplemental content instead. Then, at the modification end-time (which corresponds to the end of the modifiable content-segment), the content-presentation device 104 can switch back to outputting for presentation the content that follows in the linear sequence of content segments (or perhaps to other content, such as additional supplemental content that is replacing another modifiable content-segment).

In one example, the operation of the content-presentation device 104 switching from outputting the sequence of content segments to outputting the supplemental content can involve using various buffers of the content-presentation device 104. For example, this can involve the content-presentation device 104 switching from using first data in a first input buffer where the sequence of content segments is being received to using second data in a second input buffer where the supplemental content is being received, to populate a display buffer.

As such, according to one example as illustrated in FIG. 3 , by performing a content replacement operation, the content-presentation device 104 can replace the AD SEGMENT B with the AD SEGMENT D. As a result, rather than outputting for presentation the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304, the content-presentation device can instead output for presentation the FIRST MODIFIED SEQUENCE 306.

In another example, the content-presentation device 104 performing a content-modification operation can involve the content-presentation device 104 modifying a modifiable content-segment by overlaying on the modifiable content-segment, overlay content (referred to herein as a “content overlay operation”). For example, in this scenario, the content-presentation device 104 can again receive a linear sequence of content segments that includes the modifiable content-segment and the associated metadata, and the content-presentation device 104 can also receive the supplemental content, as described above.

The content-presentation device 104 can then output for presentation the modifiable content-segment as it ordinarily would, except that starting at the modification start-time, the content-presentation device 104 can start overlaying the supplemental content on the modifiable content-segment. The content-presentation device 104 can continue overlaying the supplemental content until the modification end-time. In this way, the content-presentation device 104 can overlay the supplemental content during at least some temporal portion of the modifiable content-segment.

In one example, the operation of the content-presentation device 104 overlaying supplemental content on the modifiable content-segment can involve using various buffers of the content-presentation device 104. For example, this can involve the content-presentation device 104 using a portion of first data in a first input buffer where the sequence of content segments is being received together with second data in a second input buffer where the supplemental content is being received, for the purposes of populating a display buffer. In this way, the content-presentation device can combine relevant portions of the modifiable content-segment (i.e., all portions except those representing region where the supplemental content is to be overlaid) together with the supplemental content to be used as an overlay, to create the desired modifiable content-segment plus the supplemental content overlaid thereon.

As such, according to one example as illustrated in FIG. 3 , by performing a content overlay operation, the content-presentation device 104 can overlay supplemental content on the AD SEGMENT B, thereby modifying it to AD SEGMENT B′. As a result, rather than outputting for presentation the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304, the content-presentation device can instead output for presentation the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308.

In some examples, the content-presentation device 104 can perform an entirety of a content-modification operation (e.g., a replacement or overlay action, as described above) while tuned to the channel on which the RECEIPT SEQUENCE 304 is received, unless an intervening event occurs that might cause the content-modification operation (or the output of the resulting content) to be stopped, such as a channel change or a powering down of the content-presentation device 104 and/or associated display device. Thus, the FIRST MODIFIED SEQUENCE 306 or the SECOND MODIFIED SEQUENCE 308 can be output on the same channel on which the content-presentation device 104 is tuned—that is, the channel on which the modifiable content-segment is received and on which the content-modification opportunity was identified.

K. Tracking and Reporting Operation-Related Data

To help facilitate performance of various operations such as the content-presentation device 104 performing a content-modification operation and to help allow for the tracking and reporting of such operations, the content-modification system 100 and/or components thereof can track and report various operation-related data at various times and in various ways.

As just a few illustrative examples, responsive to certain operations being performed, such as those described herein, the fingerprint-matching server 106, the content-presentation device 104, and/or another entity can generate, store, and/or transmit messages that indicate (i) that a modifiable content-segment has been identified, (ii) that a channel has been identified/confirmed (perhaps based on a match detected as a result of a cold or hot match attempt), (iii) that an upcoming content-modification opportunity on the identified channel has been identified, (iv) that supplemental content has been requested, (v) that supplemental content has been received, (vi), that a content-modification operation has started, (vii) that a content-modification operation has ended, and/or (viii) that a scheduled content-modification operation was aborted and/or not performed for any given reason. In some cases, these messages can include other metadata related to these operations. For example, the metadata can specify relevant timing information, device identifiers, channel identifiers, content segment identifiers, etc.

L. Watermark-Based Techniques

Although this disclosure has described the content-modification system 100 using fingerprint-based technology to perform various operations and to provide various features, in some examples, the content-modification system 100 can use watermark-based techniques instead of, or in addition to, fingerprint-based techniques, to perform these and other operations and to provide these and other features.

For example, as an alternative to the fingerprint-based technique described above in which the fingerprint-matching server 106 identifies the channel on which the second content is being received by the content-presentation device 104, the content-distribution system 102 or another entity can insert a channel identifier in the form of a watermark into the second content, such that the fingerprint-matching server 106, the content-presentation device 104, or another entity can extract the channel identifier and use it to identify the channel on which the second content is being received by the content-presentation device 104.

In this context, the content-modification system 100 can employ any watermark technique now known or later developed.

M. Operations Related to Using Predicted Channel Change Preference to Select Reference Fingerprint Data Sets

Embodiments described herein can also advantageously help the content-modification system 100 more quickly identify a channel on which a content-presentation device is receiving content, namely by reducing the amount of reference fingerprint data sets that the fingerprint-matching server stores and considers during the matching process. Examples of these features and related features will now be described. Although example operations will be described herein primarily as being performed by the fingerprint-matching server 106, other entities of the content-modification system 100, such as the content-presentation device 104, could perform one or more of such operations in alternative embodiments.

The fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to the same channel (e.g., a group of one hundred TVs tuned to Channel A). This channel will be referred to hereinafter as the “first channel.”

Each content-presentation device of the group can be identified in one or more ways. In one example, to identify a content-presentation device, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can include or remotely access data (e.g., stored in a database) that includes a respective device identifier for each of a plurality of content-presentation devices. The data can also indicate and update, in real-time or near-real-time, the channel to which each content-presentation device is tuned. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can thus use this data to find content-presentation devices that are tuned to the first channel.

In another example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect, using one or more of the fingerprint matching processes described above, a match between reference fingerprint data and query fingerprint data received from the content-presentation device and identify that the content-presentation device is tuned to the first channel based on the detected match.

In response to identifying the group, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify, from the group, a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay. As an example, the act of identifying the first sub-group can involve (i) determining the content-transmission delay between each of at least a portion of the content-presentation devices of the group and a content-distribution system (e.g., content-distribution system 102) that is transmitting content on the first channel, (ii) comparing each content-transmission delay to the threshold delay and (iii) including a content-presentation device in the first sub-group in response to the content-presentation device having a content-transmission delay that is less than the threshold delay. For instance, content-presentation devices having a content-transmission delay that is less than 10 seconds can be included in the first sub-group. Other example values for the threshold delay are possible as well, such as a value selected from a range of 5 to 25 seconds.

The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the content-transmission delay between a content-presentation device (e.g., content-presentation device 104) and the content-distribution system 102 in various ways. For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the content-transmission delay as a difference between a transmission time-stamp of content transmitted by the content-distribution system 102 and a receipt time-stamp of the same content received by the content-presentation device 104. For example, the transmitted content can be the first content and the received content can be the second content, where the second content is the same as the first content. As such, the transmission time-stamp can be the transmission time-stamp included in the first metadata discussed above and the receipt time-stamp can be the receipt time-stamp included in the second metadata discussed above.

In alternative embodiments, such as those where other points in time are determined to be the point of transmission of the first content and/or the point of receipt of the second content, other time-stamps can be determined and used in determining the content-transmission delay. For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the content-transmission delay to be the difference between a fingerprinting time-stamp at which the content-distribution system 102 generates reference fingerprint data for content (which the content-distribution system 102 can then include in metadata that is sent to the fingerprint-matching server 106 along with the reference fingerprint data) and a fingerprinting time-stamp at which the content-presentation device 104 generates query fingerprint data for the same content received by the content-presentation device 104. (which the content-presentation device 104 can then include in metadata that is sent to the fingerprint-matching server 106 along with the query fingerprint data). This can be particularly useful in situations where the content-presentation device 104 has a capability to pause live content (e.g., live TV programming). While live content is paused, the content-presentation device 104 can still receive content on the first channel, but might not fingerprint at least a portion of the received content until the live content is un-paused and at least the portion of the received content is presented/displayed.

Accordingly, in such alternative embodiments, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine which content-presentation devices of the group have a live content pausing functionality and can set or adjust the threshold delay based on that determination, so as to account for any extended delay that might result from a pausing of the content being received on the first channel. The threshold delay can be a threshold that is set or adjusted only for content-presentation devices having the live content pausing functionality or can be set or adjusted for more (e.g., all) content-presentation devices. In some cases, a different threshold can be used for content-presentation devices that have live content pausing functionality from those that do not have live content pausing functionality. As such, the act of identifying the first sub-group can involve identifying the first sub-group that includes (i) one or more content-presentation devices that each have live content pausing functionality and a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a first threshold delay and (ii) one or more other content-presentation devices that each do not have live content pausing functionality, but have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a second threshold delay.

The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine whether a content-presentation device (e.g., content-presentation device 104) has live content pausing functionality in various ways. For example, the content-presentation device or another device in the content-modification system 100 can at some point transmit to the fingerprint-matching server 106 metadata that indicates whether the content-presentation device has live content pausing functionality. Further, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can include or remotely access data that lists device identifiers and includes, for each device identifier, an indication of whether the content-presentation device has live content pausing functionality. Other examples are possible as well.

Further in response to identifying the group, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can also identify, from the group, a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay referred to above. Both the first sub-group and the second sub-group will primarily be described as each including a plurality of content-presentation devices, although one or both of the first sub-group and the second sub-group could include one content-presentation device in some cases.

As an example, the act of identifying the second sub-group can involve (i) determining the content-transmission delay between each of at least a portion of the content-presentation devices of the group and the content-distribution system 102 that is transmitting content on the first channel, (ii) comparing each content-transmission delay to the threshold delay and (iii) including a content-presentation device in the second sub-group in response to the content-presentation device having a content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay. For instance, content-presentation devices having a content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to 10 seconds can be included in the second sub-group.

The threshold delay that is used to identify the first and second sub-groups can be a threshold delay that specifically corresponds to the first channel, and other channels may have other, different corresponding threshold delays. Thus, to identify the first and second sub-groups, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can refer to mapping data that maps each of a plurality of channels to a corresponding respective threshold delay and select the threshold delay that is mapped to a channel identifier of the first channel.

In alternative examples, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can include, in the second sub-group, content-presentation devices that the fingerprint-matching server 106 identifies as having a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to another predefined threshold, different from the predefined threshold that is used for identifying the first sub-group.

The above-described act of determining the content-transmission delay between the content-distribution system 102 and a content-presentation device can take other forms as well. For example, the act of determining the content-transmission delay can involve identifying one or more particular types of information, such as information associated with the content-presentation device, and mapping the identified information to the content-transmission delay. To facilitate this, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can store in memory, and/or receive from other devices within or outside of the content-modification system 100 that store in memory, mapping data (e.g., a table) that maps one or more different types of information associated with the content-presentation device with a respective content-transmission delay.

For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify a device identifier of the content-presentation device and, using the mapping data, map the identified device identifier to the content-transmission delay. As noted above, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the device identifier in various ways, such as by receiving it from the content-presentation device, and/or by receiving other data from the content-presentation device and using other mapping data to map the received data to determine the device identifier.

As another example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify an IP address of the content-presentation device and, using the mapping data, map the identified IP address to the content-transmission delay. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the IP address in various ways, such as by receiving it from the content-presentation device or other device within or outside the content-modification system 100, and/or by receiving other data from the content-presentation device or other device and using other mapping data to map the received data to determine the IP address.

As another example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify content that is currently being, has been previously, and/or is scheduled to be presented on the content-presentation device, and, using the mapping data, map the identified content to the content-transmission delay. The fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine the content identifier in various ways, such as by receiving it from the content-presentation device or other device within or outside the content-modification system 100, and/or by receiving other data from the content-presentation device or other device and using other mapping data to map the received data to determine the content identifier. In some examples, the content identifier can be, or be included as part of, the metadata that the fingerprint-matching server 106 can receive from the content-distribution system 102, the content-management system 108, and/or other devices within the content-modification system 100. For instance, the content identifier can be, include, or be included as part of a content segment identifier, program identifier, advertisement identifier (e.g., an industry standard coding identification (ISCI) key), channel identifier, and/or other identifier associated with the content presented on the content-presentation device.

As another example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify a geographic area (e.g., DMA) of the content-presentation device and, using the mapping data, map the identified geographic area to the content-transmission delay. In practice, content being transmitted from the content-modification system 102 to one content-presentation device in a particular geographic area might have a content-transmission delay similar to or approximately the same as content being transmitted from the content-modification system 102 to another content-presentation device in the same geographic area.

The mapping data can be generated in various ways. For example, the mappings between the above-noted information and content-transmission delays can be entered manually. Additionally or alternatively, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can collect and store the above-noted information, and then determine content-transmission delays between various content-distribution systems and content-presentation devices over time and assign each determined content-transmission delay to a respective device identifier, IP address, content identifier, geographic area, etc. Other examples are possible as well. The mapping data can be created, maintained, and updated over time to record associations between different types of information, including but not limited to the information described above.

The differences in content-transmission delay described above between content-presentation devices of the first sub-group and the second sub-group can indicate how some content-presentation devices (namely, those of the first sub-group) can receive a broadcast feed or other transmitted content before other content-presentation devices (namely, those of the second sub-group).

Having identified the first and second sub-groups, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine whether, within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same new channel. The new channel will be referred to hereinafter as the “second channel.”

To determine whether a given content-presentation device of the first sub-group has changed from the first channel to the second channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106, the content-presentation device itself, and/or any other entity of the content-modification system 100 can use any of the techniques for channel identification now known or later developed, such as those described herein (e.g., fingerprint matching or other automatic content recognition (ACR) techniques).

Both the predefined time-period and the threshold number of content-presentation devices can vary across different implementations of this process. The threshold number can take the form of a quantity of content-presentation devices (e.g., two hundred content-presentation devices) or a percentage of the total number of content-presentation devices in the first sub-group (e.g., 70% of the content-presentation devices in the first sub-group).

In response to the determination being that at least the threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to the second channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can designate the second channel as a “priority channel” associated with the first channel, for use in performing channel identification when any content-presentation device of the second sub-group changes channels. For example, if the fingerprint-matching server 106 determines that, over a predefined time-period of 10 seconds, at least 50% of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels from Channel A to Channel B, then the fingerprint-matching server 106 can designate Channel B as a priority channel. Other examples are possible as well.

To designate a particular channel (e.g., the second channel) as a priority channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can store an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel (i.e., another channel, different from the first channel). For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 or other device of the content-modification system 100 can be configured to maintain, in a database, a list of channel identifiers and, for each channel identifier, a set of one or more priority channels currently associated with the channel identifier. As such, the act of storing the indication that the second channel is a priority channel can involve adding a channel identifier of the second channel to the set of priority channels that are currently associated with the channel identifier of the first channel.

In some situations, multiple channels can be designated as priority channels associated with the first channel. For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that, over a predefined time-period of 10 seconds, (i) at least 40% of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels from Channel A to Channel B and that (ii) at least 40% of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels from Channel A to Channel C. In response to this determination, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can designate Channel B and Channel C as priority channels associated with Channel A.

To designate a particular channel (e.g., the second channel) as a priority channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can store, in memory, an indication that the particular channel is a priority channel. For example, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can locally store or have access to a remote database that includes mapping data that maps each channel of a list of channels to a respective set of one or more priority channels. For instance, to designate Channel B as a priority channel for Channel A, the fingerprint-matching server 106 or other device of the content-modification system 100 can add Channel B to the set of priority channels that the mapping data maps to Channel A (e.g., store a channel identifier of Channel B and associate it with a channel identifier of Channel A). A particular channel could be designated as a priority channel in other ways as well.

In some implementations, the act of determining that, within the predefined time-period, at least the threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to the second channel can involve determining that, within the predefined time-period, (i) at least a first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels (i.e., in general, not considering which channel those content-presentation devices tuned to) and (ii) at least a second predefined threshold number of those content-presentation devices of the first sub-group that changed channels changed channels from the first channel to the second channel (i.e., the same new channel). For example, if the fingerprint-matching server 106 determines that, within a predefined time-period of 10 seconds, (i) at least 50% of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels from Channel A to some other channel, and (ii) at least 40% of that 50% have changed channels from Channel A to Channel B, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can designate Channel B as a priority channel.

There can be situations in which the fingerprint-matching server 106 determines that, within the predefined time-period, at least the first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have not changed channels (e.g., if the first predefined threshold number is 50% and at least 50% of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have remained on the first channel within the predefined time-period). In response to this determination, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can be configured to perform an action, such as clearing (e.g., deleting) any priority channels that the mapping data currently maps to the first channel. Other responsive actions are possible as well.

There can also be situations in which the fingerprint-matching server 106 determines that, within the predefined time-period, at least the first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels, but less than the second predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of that first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices changed channels to the second channel. For instance, consider a situation in which the first predefined threshold number is 50% and the second predefined threshold number is 40%. In that situation, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may determine that 50% of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels within the predefined time-period, but while some of those content-presentation devices may have changed channels to Channel B, less than 40% of those content-presentation devices changed channels to Channel B. In response to this determination, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can be configured to perform (or forego performing) an action. For instance, in response to this determination, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can be configured to not designate Channel B as a priority channel associated with Channel A. Other responsive actions are possible as well.

With the second channel designated as a priority channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can perform, or assist with the performance of, channel identification using reference fingerprint data associated with the second channel, in the event that a given content-presentation device of the second sub-group changes channels from the first channel to a new channel. As such, after the second channel has been designated as a priority channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel.

The fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a channel change from the first channel to a new channel in various ways. For example, while the content-presentation device is tuned to the first channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can be receiving query fingerprint data generated by the content-presentation device and can be matching that query fingerprint data against reference fingerprint data that is known to be associated with the first channel. After the content-presentation device changes channels, however, the query fingerprint data that the fingerprint-matching server 106 receives might no longer match the reference fingerprint data. Thus, in response to detecting this mismatch, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that the content-presentation device has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel.

As another example, the content-presentation device can be configured to compare reference fingerprint data associated with the channel with the query fingerprint data that the content-presentation device generates, and then notify the fingerprint-matching server 106 if the content-presentation device detects a mismatch. As yet another example, there can be situations in which the content-presentation device can receive, from a remote control or other input device (e.g., a tablet computer), a signal indicating that a channel change button on the remote control or other input device has been selected (e.g., pressed).

In response to detecting that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel, and based on the second channel having been designated as a priority channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can select, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel. In a situation in which multiple priority channels are associated with the first channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can select, from among the plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, multiple reference fingerprint data sets, each of which corresponding to a respective one of the multiple priority channels.

In line with the discussion above, the plurality of reference fingerprint data sets from which the selection is made can include numerous reference fingerprint data sets corresponding to numerous channels. The selection thus limits the amount of reference fingerprint data sets that are thereafter used for performing channel identifications for any of the second sub-group of content-presentation devices when such device(s) change channels from the first channel to another channel. More particularly, the selection prioritizes which reference fingerprint data sets should be used when performing such channel identifications. For instance, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can determine that enough content-presentation devices of the first sub-group (who are receiving content on the first channel earlier than those of the second sub-group) are changing from the first channel to the second channel, and then use that determination as a basis for using the second channel's reference fingerprints for channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group changes from the first channel to a new channel.

Having selected the reference fingerprint data set, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can then perform an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.

As an example, the action can involve the fingerprint-matching server 106 transmitting, to the content-presentation device, the selected reference fingerprint data set, which the content-presentation device can then locally match against its own generated query fingerprint data to identify the new channel. This can be a way to offload some of the computational burden from the fingerprint-matching server 106, as well as a way to increase the likelihood that the content-presentation device quickly identifies the channel when performing local matching. The content-presentation device can detect the match in the same or similar way as described above with respect to cold match attempts. And responsive to detecting the match, the content-presentation device can identify the channel as being the second channel.

Alternatively, the action can involve the fingerprint-matching server 106 itself using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel. For instance, after the selection has been made, the fingerprint-matching server 106 may receive, from the content-presentation device, query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device on the new channel. At the time the query fingerprint data is received, the fingerprint-matching server 106 might not know the identity of the channel, since the content-presentation device changed from the first channel to a new channel. Thus, the new channel can be the second channel or another channel. If the content-presentation device did in fact change channels to the second channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can detect a match between the query fingerprint data and at least a portion of reference fingerprint data in the selected reference fingerprint data set. The match can be detected in the same or similar way as described above with respect to cold match attempts. And responsive to detecting the match, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can identify the channel as being the second channel.

The fingerprint-matching server 106 can perform additional actions as well in response to detecting the match, including but not limited to actions in connection with other operations described above that facilitate the content-presentation device performing a content-modification operation. Example actions can include (i) generating metadata associated with the second channel, (ii) transmitting an indication of the identified channel and the associated metadata to the content-presentation device, (iii) identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on the second channel, and/or (iv) transmitting or facilitating the transmission of supplemental content to the content-presentation device to facilitate the content-presentation device performing a content-modification operation in connection with the identified content modification opportunity on the second channel. Other example actions are possible as well.

In the event where the fingerprint-matching server 106 or content-presentation device does not detect a match between the query fingerprint data and the reference fingerprint data set(s) that correspond(s) to the priority channel(s) associated with the first channel, the fingerprint-matching server 106 or content-presentation device can then attempt to match against reference fingerprint data sets corresponding to other channels, other than those designated as priority channels.

By using the channel change behavior of the first sub-group as a basis for selecting one or more reference fingerprint data sets for use in fingerprint matching for content-presentation devices of the second sub-group, the amount of fingerprint data sets that the fingerprint-matching server 106 considers in the matching process can be reduced, thereby advantageously speeding up the matching process and in turn enabling a channel and/or one or more content-modification opportunities to be identified and acted on more quickly. This can also help minimize the amount of memory and processing needed by the fingerprint-matching server 106 to store reference fingerprint data sets and perform comparisons to identify the channel. By contrast, without being more selective about which fingerprint data sets should be considered in the matching process, the fingerprint-matching server 106 might need to store and consider numerous (e.g., hundreds or thousands) of reference fingerprint data sets, thereby requiring a large amount of memory and processing power.

In some embodiments, the fingerprint-matching server 106 can perform at least some of the operations described above at predefined intervals on each of a plurality of channels (e.g., every n seconds for each of the plurality of channels, where n is an integer greater than zero). In some examples, each time the operations are performed for a channel, the list of priority channels that are mapped to the channel can be deleted before attempting to identify any new priority channels for the channel. In other examples, the priority channels mapped to each channel can remain mapped as such for at least a predefined threshold time-window, such as 10 minutes, 24 hours, one week, or another amount of time.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example method 500. At block 502, the method 500 includes identifying, by a computing system, a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel.

At block 504, the method 500 includes identifying, by the computing system, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay.

At block 506, the method 500 includes determining, by the computing system, that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel.

At block 508, the method 500 includes in response to the determining, storing, by the computing system, an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel.

At block 510, the method 500 includes detecting, by the computing system, that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel.

At block 512, the method 500 includes in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, by the computing system, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel.

At block 514, the method 500 includes performing, by the computing system, an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.

In some embodiments, the act of performing the action can involve using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel. Further, in such embodiments, the act of using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel can involve using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel as being the second channel, and the method 500 can also include causing the content-presentation device to perform, at an upcoming content-replacement opportunity on the second channel, a content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs supplemental content in place of a content segment received by the content-presentation device on the second channel.

In some embodiments, the act of performing the action can involve transmitting, to the content-presentation device, the selected reference fingerprint data set for the content-presentation to use to identify the new channel.

In some embodiments, the method 500 can include determining that one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality, and determining the threshold delay based at least in part on the determination that the one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality.

In some embodiments, the act of storing the indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification can involve adding the second channel to a set of priority channels that are mapped to the first channel in stored mapping data accessible to the computing system.

In some embodiments, the act of determining that, within the predefined time-period, at least the threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to the same second channel can involve determining that, within the predefined time-period, (i) at least a first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels and (ii) at least a second predefined threshold number of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group that changed channels, changed channels from the first channel to the same second channel.

IV. Example Variations

Although the examples and features described above have been described in connection with specific entities and specific operations, in practice, there are likely to be many instances of these entities and many instances of these operations being performed, perhaps contemporaneously or simultaneously, on a large-scale basis. Indeed, in practice, the content-modification system 100 is likely to include many content-distribution systems (each potentially transmitting content on many channels) and many content-presentation devices, with some or all of the described operations being performed on a routine and repeating basis in connection with some or all of these entities.

In addition, although some of the operations described in this disclosure have been described as being performed by a particular entity, the operations can be performed by any entity, such as the other entities described in this disclosure. Further, although the operations have been recited in a particular order and/or in connection with example temporal language, the operations need not be performed in the order recited and need not be performed in accordance with any particular temporal restrictions. However, in some instances, it can be desired to perform one or more of the operations in the order recited, in another order, and/or in a manner where at least some of the operations are performed contemporaneously/simultaneously. Likewise, in some instances, it can be desired to perform one or more of the operations in accordance with one more or the recited temporal restrictions or with other timing restrictions. Further, each of the described operations can be performed responsive to performance of one or more of the other described operations. Also, not all of the operations need to be performed to achieve one or more of the benefits provided by the disclosure, and therefore not all of the operations are required.

Although certain variations have been described in connection with one or more examples of this disclosure, these variations can also be applied to some or all of the other examples of this disclosure as well and therefore aspects of this disclosure can be combined and/or arranged in many ways. The examples described in this disclosure were selected at least in part because they help explain the practical application of the various described features.

Also, although select examples of this disclosure have been described, alterations and permutations of these examples will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Other changes, substitutions, and/or alterations are also possible without departing from the invention in its broader aspects as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: identifying, by a computing system, a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel; identifying, by the computing system, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay; determining, by the computing system, that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel; in response to the determining, storing, by the computing system, an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel; detecting, by the computing system, that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to the new channel; in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, by the computing system, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel; and performing, by the computing system, an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the action comprises using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel comprises using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel as being the second channel, the method further comprising: causing, by the computing system, the content-presentation device to perform, at an upcoming content-replacement opportunity on the second channel, a content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs supplemental content in place of a content segment received by the content-presentation device on the second channel.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the action comprises transmitting, to the content-presentation device, the selected reference fingerprint data set for the content-presentation to use to identify the new channel.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the computing system, that one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality; and determining, by the computing system, the threshold delay based at least in part on the determination that the one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification comprises adding the second channel to a set of priority channels that are mapped to the first channel in stored mapping data accessible to the computing system.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that, within the predefined time-period, at least the threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to the same second channel comprises determining that, within the predefined time-period, (i) at least a first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels and (ii) at least a second predefined threshold number of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group that changed channels, changed channels from the first channel to the same second channel.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising: identifying a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel; identifying, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay; determining that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel; in response to the determining, storing an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel; detecting that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to the new channel; in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel; and performing an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.
 9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein performing the action comprises using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel comprises using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel as being the second channel, the set of operations further comprising: causing the content-presentation device to perform, at an upcoming content-replacement opportunity on the second channel, a content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs supplemental content in place of a content segment received by the content-presentation device on the second channel.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein performing the action comprises transmitting, to the content-presentation device, the selected reference fingerprint data set for the content-presentation to use to identify the new channel.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the set of operations further comprising: determining that one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality; and determining the threshold delay based at least in part on the determination that the one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein storing the indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification comprises adding the second channel to a set of priority channels that are mapped to the first channel in stored mapping data accessible to the computing system.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein determining that, within the predefined time-period, at least the threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to the same second channel comprises determining that, within the predefined time-period, (i) at least a first predefined threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed channels and (ii) at least a second predefined threshold number of the content-presentation devices of the first sub-group that changed channels, changed channels from the first channel to the same second channel.
 15. A computing system comprising: a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising: identifying a group of content-presentation devices that are each tuned to a same first channel; identifying, from the group, (i) a first sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is lower than a threshold delay and (ii) a second sub-group of content-presentation devices that each have a respective content-transmission delay that is greater than or equal to the threshold delay; determining that within a predefined time-period, at least a threshold number of content-presentation devices of the first sub-group have changed from the first channel to a same second channel; in response to the determining, storing an indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification when a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to a new channel; detecting that a content-presentation device of the second sub-group has changed channels from the first channel to the new channel; in response to the detecting and based on the indication that the second channel is a priority channel, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprint data sets, a reference fingerprint data set that corresponds with the second channel; and performing an action to facilitate identification of the new channel using the selected reference fingerprint data set.
 16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein performing the action comprises using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel.
 17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel comprises using the selected reference fingerprint data set to identify the new channel as being the second channel, the method further comprising: causing the content-presentation device to perform, at an upcoming content-replacement opportunity on the second channel, a content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs supplemental content in place of a content segment received by the content-presentation device on the second channel.
 18. The computing system of claim 15, wherein performing the action comprises transmitting, to the content-presentation device, the selected reference fingerprint data set for the content-presentation to use to identify the new channel.
 19. The computing system of claim 15, the set of operations further comprising: determining that one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality; and determining the threshold delay based at least in part on the determination that the one or more content-presentation devices of the group have live content pausing functionality.
 20. The computing system of claim 15, wherein storing the indication that the second channel is a priority channel for use in performing channel identification comprises adding the second channel to a set of priority channels that are mapped to the first channel in stored mapping data accessible to the computing system. 